Let's talk about Tomestones. (Theories and Spoilers)

[Fenral]

However with the latest expansion Rowena is selling Doman gear in exchange for tomestones, she may not be dealing exclusively with Cid- even before Poetics she dealing with tomestones which leads me to believe that she has her own motivations.

Cid (rather, the Ironworks) has an exclusive contract with Rowena over that particular set of gear, but it doesn't go both ways. She gets all sorts of stuff for all sorts of clients, presumably Sharlayans and Garleans as well.

[myahele]

Would not surprise me if she's possessed by an Ancient Allagan scholar ala Koh (weekly CT quest giver)

[Cilia]

Pretty sure she's just giving us rare / expensive gear for them and then using the information content to charge exorbitant rates to scholars and collectors.

We have Philosophy, Mythology, Soldiery, Poetics, Law, and now Aesthetics tomestones - only one that would be useful to anyone outside of scholars is the Soldiery ones, maybe, and perhaps the Mythology ones in determining things like the identity of the Warring Triad?

(Meh, I'm just kind of miffed the only way to upgrade the new Artifact Armors is though Alexander Savage...)

[Waffilicious]

Pebble from the sky... wouldn't that be one of those node/robots thingies like in azys lla that can read the info?

[Whiteroom]

Twist. Rowena will be the ultimate baddy in this story. She has untold knowledge from all the tomes we've already given her.

[Balipu]

Now Rowena being the big bad would be a welcome twist. Especially if she isn't posessed by Ascians, working for Lolorito, a Garlean spy, or someone gathering power to reclaim Ala Mhigo. Had too much of those.
But a good old fashioned crazy bitch.......now that would be goood.

[Chewy2nd]

I kinda got the feeling that the Ironworks gear could have been the result of Philosophy/Mythology/Soldiery tomestones

[saber_alter]

-snip-

Philosophy would probably be the various ideals that leading allagan minds had, like xande, amon, and other leaders (the real Unei and Doga perhaps?)
Mythology would probably be information regarding the various beast tribe and dravanian and Meracydian "gods" (tiamat, bahamut, and their siblings) at the time, and possibly the information that the warring triad was derived from
soldiery is self explanatory
so is poetics, and law.
Esoteric means: intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.

probably stuff equivalent to top-secret-eyes-only or things only spoken about in hushed whispers. secrets only those directly creating or affecting them would know about.

(Meh, I'm just kind of miffed the only way to upgrade the new Artifact Armors is though Alexander Savage...)

that'll change when 3.1 hits.

[Toranja]

I find it hard to believe all the Allag perished during the 3rd Umbral Era and failed to survive to this day.

Like Unei and Doga, if an Allag had just awoken from slumber, he would have an interest in collecting tomestones for two reasons:
1. To collect the knowledge necessary to get his culture reborn and operate what is left;
2. To prevent other peoples from gaining the knowledge that brought about much misery and ruin.

The Garlean Empire is most certainly a large and deep pocketed interested party in these tomes. In the beginning, Rowena may have enough sagacity to see it would be in her best interest to side with the Empire as a merchant, for that would open a much larger and bellicose market. However, seeing her set up shop in Mor Dhona and side with the Domans, she may have interests beyond her purse and refuse to deal with the garleans.

[Oreic]

I'd be hesitant to say that Rowena would be dealing with Garleans. However, with all the treachery and backstabbing going on, it wouldn't surprise me. I'm curious to see if all these tomes and what not that we've been collecting amount to anything story wise. It'd be interesting to see, anyways.